High-jumping and Kung Fu Panda

Hunter, Cain contribute to this week's top quotes

Here are some of the notable quotes from around Major League Baseball this week:

"I felt like I could have dunked a basketball ... with two hands ... over Shaq."

- Torii Hunter on his latest leaping, home run-saving catch against the Royals on Sunday.
(Los Angeles Times)

"The Kung Fu Panda does not get hurt."

- Matt Cain, refusing to believe that Pablo Sandoval was hurt when he tripped on his way to third base and spent a few moments on the ground with a twisted ankle. Sandoval stayed in the game and hit a walk-off three-run homer in the ninth inning of the Giants' win over Washington.
(San Francisco Chronicle)

"I remember it a little. I guess when I was a kid, I mainly threw the ball right-handed. Then I switched over on my own, and my dad got me a glove, and it stuck there every since. But I was only 5 or 6. It wasn't a Billy Wagner thing where I broke my arm and ended up with 100 mph in the other one. That would be nice."

"I've said for a while that I think Carlos is the most underrated hitter in the game. He's a fabulous run-producer. It's not easy to do what he does. If there's a runner in scoring position, he's going to get a hit. When he doesn't, you're like, 'What happened?'"

"It was tough. I was just hoping to keep it in front of me, and I came up with it clean, so I figured I'd have a shot, and [Jesus Flores] made a great play."

-Austin Kearns on getting a 9-2 force at home that included a nice stretch from catcher Jesus Flores.
(Washington Post)

"I learned from Jeff Bagwell that, on the days you don't feel good, try to do two things: walk, and if there's a guy on third with fewer than two out, try to get him in any way you can. You're not going to feel good every day throughout the year."

-Adam Everett, Tigers shortstop, who has driven in a runner from third with less than two outs in four of five opportunities this season, recalling advice from his former Houston teammate.
(Detroit Free Press)

"I think I've become a pretty good outfielder. Whether it's there or first base really doesn't matter to me, as long as I'm in the lineup and helping my team win."

"I have confidence every single day. The results, I'd just say, are on my side right now."

- Adam Jones, after hitting a home run in each of the first two innings on Tuesday night.
(Baltimore Sun)

"I think we thought maybe there was a possibility of it being a cramp-type issue as opposed to a strain. The most disappointing thing is I had this string of a long period of time without being on the DL. But the positive is that, compared to the other stuff I've been on the DL for, this is extremely minor."

- Ryan Ludwick, who was placed on the disabled list by the Cardinals earlier this week.
(MLB.com)

"It's not something that I just woke up and wondered where my swing went. I'm swinging the same all season. It's just early in the season, and your average can go up and down dramatically. I'm trying to get my average up, but if I keep hitting home runs and driving in runs, that is what's important."

- Mike Jacobs, who, entering Wednesday's game against Oakland, was batting .303 in May. He also leads the Royals in home runs (six) and RBIs (20).
(MLB.com)

"He was so excited to be a part of the Florida Marlins. He turned down more money elsewhere to sign with the Marlins. He really wanted to pitch for what he considers to be his hometown team, so this is a big setback for Scott, just emotionally."

- Agent Mark Rodgers on client and Marlins pitcher Scott Proctor, who was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon and underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on Tuesday.
(South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

"I broke my leg, and I had different things on my mind."

- Chad Billingsley on how he handled last year's two losses to the Phillies in the NLCS. In the offseason, Billingsley slipped on ice outside his home in Pennsylvania and suffered a spiral fracture.
(Los Angeles Times)

"Especially the American [teammates], they tell me I'm crazy [to play winter ball]. But I get 150 at-bats, and it gets me ready for Spring Training. I've been doing it my whole career. I just enjoy playing for my hometown. It's real fun. People are so excited; they just go crazy for baseball. They support you so good. They don't get a chance to see you play in the States. They make you feel like you're a superstar."

"It's funny, because when we parted ways, I told [Halladay], 'Thanks for everything. You've been a huge influence.' And he said, 'Thanks. I learned a lot from you, too.' I kind of laughed. 'What did you learn from me, dude?'"

-A.J. Burnett talking about what he said to former teammate Roy Halladay after signing with the Yankees this offseason.
(Toronto Globe and Mail)

"It felt good, obviously. I may try to use it on Tuesday."

- Bill Hall after getting two hits using the pink bat, which players throughout Major League Baseball swung on Sunday to help raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The bats will be auctioned off on MLB.com, with the money going to the foundation.
(brewers.com)

"If it means I'm going to help the team win, and I'm still here and have a jersey for every game, I'll do whatever they tell me to do."

-Mark Reynolds, talking about playing first base on Sunday for the Diamondbacks. Manager A.J. Hinch said the move was only temporary as Conor Jackson was not able to start due to a fever.
(Arizona Republic)

"As long as I'm up here, I'm going to feel happy. I'm going to enjoy every opportunity that they give me and do my best. If they keep me, I'm going to feel good about it. I've done a pretty good job. ... I think I deserve the opportunity, and I think I can play on this level."

- Catcher Omir Santos, called up due to injuries, talking about how he hopes to stick with the Mets.
(New York Daily News)

"I think it's great. Anytime you can bring attention to this disease or bring attention to a cause like this, it's good. Anyone who turns on a game today and sees someone swinging a pink bat might think about someone who has breast cancer. It's a great way to call attention to it."

- Chase Headley, San Diego Padres left fielder, talking about the pink bat he used on Sunday in support of the Susan G. Koman Foundation. Players around the league swung the pink bats as part of the "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer" initiative led by Major League Baseball. Headley had two hits with the bat, including a two-run home run.
(padres.com)

"All I really see is getting the guys out. It doesn't matter to me if I give up a run or two. I just want us to win games. Talk to me in three months if my ERA is still zero. That means we're winning a bunch of games."

"I'd be lying if I said coming to this division, coming into this team and coming into this market and all that stuff and wondering if it was going to be the same, because you never know how stuff is going to translate, and once again, it's only the middle of May. It's not the end yet, but I just feel like this is how I play. Granted, it's been on the high side, and it's very tough to keep it up for an entire year, but I'm not surprising myself. I almost expect it."

"That pace will slow down. It's like everything else. Sometimes, things are up; sometimes, they're down. It's just when the opportunity is there and in situations where it will help the team. I've been getting on but with less doubles and less triples. I didn't have the opportunity early in the season to run."

- Coco Crisp, Royals center fielder, who stole seven bases in a six-game stretch to give him nine steals on the year.
(Kansas City Star)

"The first month was kind of difficult. I was really just getting over being really sick and losing all that weight. I really didn't have a Spring Training on top of that. Then I wasn't playing every day. All kind of stuff factored, but you never like not playing well. It's no fun. I tried to really be patient with myself and get better and ride it out."

- Jerry Hairston Jr., who has improved his batting average from .156 to .268 during his current nine-game hitting streak.
(MLB.com)